PhotoLuminations

The federal sequester is a cruel weapon: a raw deal that is part of an effort to undo the heritage of the New Deal and the safety net. It is striking home and eliminating programs that are essential to the needs and rights of the elderly, the poor, children, and the disabled. Today I learned about the end of an excellent advocacy program for the disabled.

The front page story, by Rick Foster, is headlined: Bullying at any age: Experts say aggression by seniors against other seniors is a growing problem—and it's being felt in Attleboro Foster details specific instances of bullying in Attleboro senior housing.

How three women escaped

Not from kidnap and rape, but from bullying which is bad enough. Bullies target differences and vulnerability. Three women living with disability in HUD-subsidized housing were bullied—Margaret, in Massachusetts; Christie, in Washington; and Jennifer in Wisconsin. Margaret got evicted and lives in a shelter, Christie managed to buy a home, and Jennifer found a well-managed residence. Their lives are transformed, they feel good again, and they experience hope and peace—even living in a shelter is better than being bullied.

Shocking story of injustice—elders and disabled are treated cruelly.

Join Margaret in the fight to bring justice to subsidized housing

As a result of advocating for the rights of people living with age or disability, I am hearing painful stories of injustice.

If we create the right kind of personal identity, we can say things to the world around us that they don’t yet believe, and get them to do things that they don’t think they can do.---Bryan Stevenson, founder Equal Justice Initiative, speaking at TED

Great progress! Our petition and proposed bill has moved to the Joint Committee on Housing. We will need support from all concerned citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to move this through the legislative process. Write to us to share your experiences, write to your elected state representatives, and let us know if you are prepared to testify in support of the bill.

A birthday tribute to my two wonderful children, Elana and Ari. And to Canaan Dog Keren, who has been with me for nearly all of her 10 solar years. And in celebration of Tu B'Shvaat, the New Year/Birthday of the Trees.

You shall leave in joy and be led home secure. Before you, mount and hill shall shout aloud, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

A victory and a beginning. The STOP BULLYING COMMITTEE has introduced a bill to stop bullying to the Massachusetts Legislature. SD01635 A bill to protect residents of subsidized housing developments from bullying; bullying prevention policies and plans; research and demonstration programs.

We welcome questions and suggestions about the petition to "Stop Bullying."
Bullying, including social bullying, has the potential to do serious harm to the targets, including depriving people of their rights to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, creating stress with consequent psychological and physical injury, and restricting the rights of targets to enjoy normal social interactions or to organize for educational, social, or advocacy purposes.

We start from the principle that harassment/bullying is harmful and must not be tolerated. We advocate for research, education, and the means to provide protection through intervention and enforcement. Action is necessary and justified because bullying is harmful and because no one deserves to be bullied.

Our petition to stop bullying will be the basis for a bill to be considered by the Mass. legislature.The petiton has been presented to Senator Patricia Jehlen, Chair of the senate committee on elder affairs, who is sympathetic to our concerns. Now is the time for everyone concerned to help. We ask that you advocate through us or let us know what you have done so that we can report and coordinate.

A strong contingent of seniors representing Mass Senior Action Council were among advocates protesting cuts in earned benefits programs. Speakers included Representative Michael E Capuano (8th Mass District) and Representative John Tierney. Photos of the event

This is a collection of references that deal with bullying of and by senior citizens: what it is, how it emerges, how to control and extinguish it, and how to create a better environment.

To create a virtual peer-to-peer support network to combat bullying of seniors

• To provide meaningful peer support for seniors living with bullying in subsidized housing for the elderly and disabled. Including practical ways to empower seniors to protect themselves and to advocate for themselves: we will seek to provide support, information and education, and to share tested ideas.

A petition for legislation, administrative rules, and oversight to correct the abuse

Introduction

Elders living in subsidized residences frequently are subject to abuse, harassment, and bullying by other residents and/or by staff. Residents in these out-of-control buildings are constantly under siege from bullying, causing them to suffer from stress and related conditions such as depression, high-blood pressure, stroke, and possibly suicide, and have nowhere to turn for relief. This is a petition seeking legislative and administrative remedies. Please join and help make a difference.

"Because you still listen, because in times like these
to have you listen at all, it's necessary
to talk about trees."— What Kind of Times Are These
By Adrienne Rich. 1929-2012
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/181516#about

In the State of the Union, the most powerful man in the world, the President of the United States, was unable to deal with the issue threatening the future of humanity: "The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change." I seek to understand how our political system is unable to act on our behalf. As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

“It would be immoral to leave these young people [grandchildren] with a climate system spiraling out of control.”—Dr. James Hansen

I read The Third Industrial Revolution by Jeremy Rifkin as part of my search for realistic methods to assure a better world for my grandson, a world facing major environmental degradation that imperils the future of society. Solutions are available, the problem is that we deny the reality and we cannot even have a national debate on the issues because of deep divisions and the political control exerted by the very economic forces that are driving the destruction.

Yesterday was the kind of warm sunny day in early December that feels like fall, not winter. Walking with my dog, Keren, past a parochial primary school playground at recess. Kids wrestling, showing off, swooping around in a ball game, chirping and shouting, making playground noises—like a flock of birds. I passed on, down the hill, and then turned back to see what the sudden rise in noise and pitch was all about.

Concerned about the mindless rush to destruction of the planet? Worried about the future for your children and grandchildren? Searching for a way to stop bullying?

This is a case study of conflict in a building for elderly residents, managed under HUD programs.

When HUD created subsidized housing for elders, the goal was to create a safe and secure home for people who could not afford full market rate housing. But certain realities were created to confront elders. Owners believed that not only were they in charge of their buildings, but that they were in charge of their tenants.

Who shall live, and who shall die?

Living with Age will treat old age as a chronic condition to be fought at every turn.

The extreme winter sport for ambulating elders (and their dogs)

New England winter offers great challenges for the elder seeking adventure and excitement. There are some little-known types of adventure, for example, walking someplace in the city after a snowfall. This sport is readily available to anyone who no longer has an automobile, and is practically unknown to the majority of people who use a car to do all their errands.

Sitting on the lawn, listening to music! On a July evening, in a small green park just steps away from traffic and the city hall.